Washington @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( May 10, 2010 ) Washington 3, NY Mets 2
The Washington Nationals are inching ever closer to a place for which they haven't been too familiar — first place.
The Nationals begin the day alone in second place in the NL East behind the Philadelphia Phillies, and they're just two games from the top of the standings - somewhere they haven't been since they were tied for first on April 4, 2008. Before that, you have to go back a ways to find the Nationals atop the NL East.
Washington never climbed out of last place a year ago, and it spent all but two days of the 2009 season - the first two days - occupying the cellar alone.
Thanks to a good mix of veterans and young players, the Nationals are off to their best start since their first year in the nation's capital. They're four games over .500 for the first time since they were 77-73 on Sept. 19, 2005, and even then, they were in the midst of a freefall that saw them drop from first place as late as July 24 to last by the end of the season.
The Nationals have won three in a row and nine of 14, in large part because of outstanding pitching. They have allowed three or fewer runs 10 times in their last 14 games.
They hope 26-year-old left-hander Scott Olsen can keep it up by continuing his stellar performance over his past three starts.
In his last start Thursday against Atlanta, Olsen took a no-hitter into the eighth but wound up with a no-decision in Washington's 3-2 win. He struck out eight and allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits in 7 1/3 innings.
Before giving up two runs in that eighth inning, Olsen had put together a string of 20 consecutive scoreless innings. He threw seven shutout innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 25, and came back with six scoreless frames at Florida on April 30.
New York Mets starter Jonathon Niese put together a string that was nearly as impressive over his last three starts in April, allowing just three runs (two earned) over a span of 18 innings. But that came crashing down his last time out, as the 23-year-old lefty was dinged for 12 hits and four runs in six innings at the Cincinnati Reds. He surrendered two home runs.
The Mets have been a bit of a surprise, as well, though they have hurt themselves in close games. Their 3-2 loss in Monday's series opener dropped them to 4-8 in one-run contests, and each of their last four losses have come by the narrowest of margins.
Three of the Mets' top hitters have fared well against Olsen. Jose Reyes is 15-for-39 with a home run and five RBIs, David Wright is 10-for-35 with three homers and six RBIs, and Luis Castillo is 5-for-13 with a home run and four RBIs.